BOOKS
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Poetic, evocative and
troubling, UK writer
Lucy Durneen’s short
stories are imbued with
a sense of melancholic
disquiet. If you like
your tales wrapped up
neatly (preferably with
a soothing ending),
Wild Gestures will
probably frustrate you.
But if you’re after stories that are
open-ended and ambiguous, stories that
require unhurried, contemplative reading,
then Durneen’s first collection is rewarding
in its slow-drip release. The 17 stories in this
collection mine psychological depths and
sometimes require a second look, as there’s
a lot of suppressed feeling to unpack. Some
work via metaphor rather than literalism,
and many characters don’t seem to live in
the present, but are instead affected by the
unresolved pull of the past or anxiety about
the future. Durneen knows how to capture a
mood, and despite the title, there’s nothing
frantic about her prose. She takes her time
to tease out her ideas. In order not to miss
any subtleties, the reader too, is advised to
let each story percolate instead of rushing
through the entire book in one sitting.
THUY ON
WILD GESTURES
LUCY DURNEEN
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Intricately weaving together a multigenerational saga that moves
between Australia, England and the Netherlands, Australian poet Libby
Angel’s debut novel The Trapeze Act tackles questions of identity and
belonging through an unapologetically feminist lens. Runaway trapeze
artist, unconventional mother and wife, the fiercely creative Leda is
the fulcrum of the novel, yet it is her daughter Loretta from whose
perspective the story unfolds. Overshadowed by her mother, neglected
by her successful barrister father, and bullied by her delinquent brother, Loretta’s perilous
navigation of her sense of self is narrated alongside the yesteryear journey of her paternal great-
grandparents’ voyage to Australia, and in particular, her great-grandfather’s doomed expedition
for ivory. But the most evocative moments of the novel take place within Leda’s circus tales of
tragedy, imbuing the story with both a sense of abandon and melancholy, as well as the family
dynamics that play out within a discombobulated household quite unlike any other. SONIA NAIR
Reading any Peter Corris thriller is a win, but his latest, Win, Lose
or Draw, will sadly be his last, as the popular author who was once
described as “the Godfather of contemporary Australian crime-writing”
has been forced to lay down his pen in the face of irreversible blindness.
Cliff Hardy, Corris’ old-fashioned but relatable Sydney-based sleuth,
has aged alongside his creator, but not even a quadruple bypass can
keep Hardy down for long. Instead, he finds himself hired by a rich
businessman to search for his missing daughter in a case that has
many similarities to Corris’ first Hardy novel (The Dying Trade was published in 1980 and
centred around a young woman and her estranged family). Now, 25 years and 42 novels later, a
grandfather is struggling to identify with the changing world in which he finds himself. Every bit
as hard-boiled as ever, Hardy will travel the length of Australia in search of answers, and fans
around the globe will join him on one last rollercoaster of an adventure. CRAIG BUCHANAN
THE TRAPEZE ACT
LIBBY ANGEL
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100 Women Who Made History is a picture book introducing
young readers to some of the most influential women of the world.
This handsome collaborative effort is a perfect vehicle to celebrate
International Women’s Day. The book is divided into six categories
(Clued-up Creatives, Super Scientists, Inspiring Campaigners,
Leading Ladies, Intrepid Entrepreneurs and Amazing Achievers) and
commemorates an eclectic range of pioneers who left an indelible mark
behind. A combination of illustrations, photos and short biographical
information make an attractive package. Among the many recognisable
famous names – Edith Piaf, Frida Kahlo, Joan of Arc, Amelia Earhart
–
are others not so well known, but equally deserving of their place in
the sun. Did you know that Françoise Barré-Sinoussi was the virologist
who discovered the HIV virus? Or that Sofia Kovalevskaya was the
first woman in Europe to be awarded a doctorate in mathematics? Or
that Wu Zetian was the only female to rule China (apart from Cixi, who
ruled in secret in the 19th centur y)? The only criticism is that 100 is too
few a number; there are many more worthy candidates in the political,
scientific, social and artistic arena who could’ve been included.
THUY ON > Books Editor
WIN, LOSE OR DRAW
PETER CORRIS
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